The Soteriology of The Bible

Text: I Corinthians 2:1-4; Luke 1:67-80,

Key verses: 1:77-79, "To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Introduction:

That is a big word but it simply means the study of salvation. It is taken from the Greek word "soteria." With only a few exceptions it is translated salvation. Salvation or The Soteriology of the Bible is a study of more than just the new birth. It includes redemption, conversion, the atonement, election, the effectual call, repentance, faith, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and our glorification. From the list just given you can see we do not have time to cover every one of those areas this morning. What I want us to focus on this morning is that the soteriology of the Bible, or salvation, is not a formula performed or even exercised by man. You actually cannot tell a person how to be saved because there is nothing he can do in order to be delivered from the penalty of death. This is extremely hard for some Christians to grasp because they have been brought up in, or have been taught to invite others to pray a prayer, follow certain steps, come forward, raise their hands, etc., in order to be saved and have eternal life. That is not the salvation of the Bible. Salvation cannot be systematized into certain steps for the unregenerate to follow and it certainly cannot be made dependant upon either the natural man's ability to understand or to choose. I want us to look first at the fact that the soteriology of the Bible:

I. Is To Be Preached:

A. Without enticing words: (Vs. 4)

1. I Corinthians 2:1-5. Though the word salvation is not used here the subject is the gospel and of a declaration of the soteriology God designed. ("The testimony of God.")

2. The remission of sins is not to be proffered but preached. The gospel is not to be peddled but proclaimed. The salvation of God is not to be merchandized but pronounced.

3. Paul could have enhanced his presentation of the gospel with human eloquence and flowery language that no doubt would have dazzled many minds. But he sought to preach a pure and simple gospel because the subject under consideration does not need embellishment.

a) Preachers of the gospel can tend to fall into this trap by using emotional stories in an attempt to reach the emotions of the lost and encourage a response.

b) I listened to a tape of a well know preacher who spoke of getting people to respond throughout the services; sit, stand, raise your hand, etc. All so they would be ready to respond to the invitation at the close of the service.

c) Paul had a burning desire for Israel to be saved but did not resort to such humanistic tactics, (Romans 10:1-2). He just preached Christ.

4. The soteriology of the Bible does not include a step by step sequence for man to follow in order to be born again. That is flat out unbiblical.

5. Regeneration is God's work (John 1:13, I John 5:1). Then faith, repentance, and newness of life follow. Preach Christ and him crucified, dying a vicarious death, rising from the dead for our justification.

6. Emotional stories, psychological ploys, and intellectual reasoning cannot overcome the total depravity and inability of man to believe and repent. God gave us the message and it does not need our art of articulation to reach the mind, emotions, or will of man.

B. Without profane words: (Vs. 2)

1. I recently read an article in a major fundamental Christian publication that wrote a full article on Revelation 3:20 telling the lost that Christ is at the door of your heart, standing and knocking with "untiring patience" waiting, with "gentle persistence" for "your next move."

2. It is not the verse that is profane and irreverent but the misuse of the verse in this way and telling people that "Opening the door is a simple process." In the moment you turn to God you become a child of his for all time and eternity. (Sword of the Lord, April 16, 1999, "Someone is at Your Door")

3. Paul did not use other verses out of context to implore unregenerate men to do something that they might lead to a dead faith that stood in the wisdom of man. He did not seek to charm the passion or persuade the will but preached Christ. He preached what the Spirit of God would use to teach the heart, soul and spirit of His elect.

4. John did not call for men to come forward and repent or pray. He called on men to show forth fruit meet for repentance, the fruit of regeneration, before he would baptize.

C. With compassion and boldness: (Vs. 3)

1. Paul had threats against his life because of the gospel he preached. (Acts 18:9-10) God told him through a vision not to fear these.

2. The fear and trembling is due to the awesome responsibility of preaching an uncorrupt gospel, without mixture of my own ideas. It also encompasses the fact that preachers in and of themselves are insufficient and weak vessels for so great a task.

3. Now, lest we over emphasize the inability of the natural man to repent and believe let us next see that a Biblical soteriology:

II. Does Not Deny The Responsibility Of Man:

A. God has decreed that all should repent and believe:

1. It is not the gospel that makes one responsible before God. Man is responsible before God because of God's authoritative decree.

a) Mark 6:12 "And they went out, and preached that men should repent." This is after Christ had sent them out to preach, look at what they preached!

b) ACT 17:30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"

c) What is man to repent of or from? Their continued state of unbelief.

d) John 3:18-19, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

2. Pastor Forrest Keener gives a great illustration for the supposed inconsistency some see in sovereign grace (total inability) and preaching man's responsibility to repent. "Is a drunk responsible to drive safely, behave decently, etc.? Certainly! Is he able to do so? Certainly not. What makes his ability less than his rightful responsibility? His drunkenness. What makes man's natural ability less that his responsibility? His sinful depravity."

3. Men become disgusted at a biblical presentation of salvation and will ask the same question the Lord's disciples asked of him when he taught the inability of man.

a) MAT 19:25 "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?"

b) But look at the Lord's response: MAT 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." God grants repentance in regeneration but this fact does not lessen man's responsibility to repent.

B. Salvation is of the Lord:

1. In it's conception: Man didn't conceive it and the natural man can't conceive of it.

2. In it's reception: There is no plan for you and I to come up with to ensure others saving grace or the experience of the new birth. We are simply to preach Christ.

3. In it's consummation: The simple message of the gospel, preaching Christ alone, often appears to be vague to men who follow after the modern methods of evangelism. They think you have to tell people to believe or how to believe. You can't teach someone to do something that they can not understand and that is foreign to their nature.

4. Preach Christ and let God regenerate and grant repentance and faith by the Holy Spirit.

5. 1CO 1:17 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."